So You’re Telling Me I’m in My Popular Phase!?

Chapter 56: Unexpectedly, Yandere Izumi After All!?

“Mornin’—”

In the morning, I met up with Izumi at our meeting spot and we headed to school just as usual.

“Oh, mornin’.”

“Yeah!”

Izumi is energetic today too.

“Ah, that’s right. Izumi, do you remember when I got into that traffic accident?”

“Umm, the one in kindergarten?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“Why?”

“Just kinda. The topic came up, so I got a little curious.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.”

For some reason, she’s really doubting me.

“Does it have anything to do with Sakura-chan?”

Eh? Wait a sec!?

“Why are you bringing up Sakura!”

“Sakura? What’s that?”

“No, well, that is…”

Crap! What should I do here?

“Haaah… Well, that doesn’t really matter, but I want to ask one thing.”

She looks up at me with a smile.

“W-What is it?”

“Umm, see, yesterday you went home together with Sakura-chan. No, actually, you visited her house too, didn’t you? What is the meaning of this?”

“No, I’m the one who wants to ask!”

How do you know that!

“Also, why do you have Toyomi-chan’s email address and phone number in your phone, Ryu-kun?”

“Why do you know that too?”

“Because I looked.”

“Don’t say it so casually!”

Seriously scary. While I wasn’t looking… And I only realized it yesterday, you know!

“So? What is the meaning of this?”

“There was a lot of stuff involving Sakura, and the thing with Machida-san happened without me knowing too!”

Huh? Wait a second. My phone should have a lock on it…

“What is this ‘stuff’?”

“Before that, can I ask something?”

“What?”

This is bad. She’s scary.

“How do you know my phone password!?”

“I figured it out by guessing.”

Excuse me?

“What do you mean?”

“Like I said, I know everything about you, Ryu-kun!”

O-Oh.

That line would be super cool depending on the scene but… right now it’s just too scary.

“Hey, what’s wrong, Izumi?”

You’re way too scary, you know?

“Because you’re cheating, Ryu-kun.”

Hah? Wait a minute.

…………

“Why is it like I’m being scolded by a girlfriend for cheating?”

“Hweh.”

Izumi made a weird sound and her face turned red.

“That is, umm…”

Think, me. Izumi is my childhood friend and best friend from way back.

“Don’t tell me? You thought I was gonna get stolen by Sakura?”

“Eh?”

“No way that’d happen. I’m always gonna be your best friend. Sakura is a best friend too, but I won’t ignore you or anything.”

“The reason is right, but you’re wrooooong!”

The reason is right but I’m wrong? I don’t get it at all.

“Enough already! We’re going to school, hurry up!”

“O-Oh.”

Yep, I really don’t understand the creature known as ‘woman’.

“Ah, it’s Ryu-chan! Mornin’—”

Wait, wait! Sakura at this timing!?

“Bam!”

“Gugh.”

And then, she jumped on me just like Izumi.

“My, my. You are energetic from the morning, aren’t you, Itabashi-san.”

“Ah, good morning, Morikawa-san.”

It’s a chaotic scene—!

Chapter 57: Unexpectedly, Yandere VS Dere-Dere!?

“Hey, Ryu-kun. How long are you going to be clinging to Itabashi-san?”

“Hey, Ryu-chan. Let’s hurry and go to school, just the two of us. Just the two of us.”

Sakura finally got off me and faced Izumi.

Before that, Izumi, don’t look at me with eyes baring such murderous intent!

And Sakura, don’t provoke Izumi on purpose!

“My, my. Getting so close with Ryu-kun. I’m envious… no, I’m jealous~.”

Izumi is smiling with her usual gentle voice, but her eyes aren’t laughing.

“Isn’t that obvious? After all, Ryu-chan called me his ‘bestest friend’, you see.”

Sakura mocks Izumi with a composed expression. Also, I feel like her tone of voice changed again.

Would it be alright if I went to school ahead of you two?

“W-W-W-Why!? Even I’m just a ‘best friend’, but someone he met for the first time in ages yesterday is a ‘bestest friend’…”

“Fufufu, looks like it’s Sakura’s win.”

No, no, what kind of contest are you having?

“E-E-Explain what this means, Ryu-kun.”

Uwah. She’s looking at me with an incredible face…

“Umm, well, you’re both my ‘bestest friends’, you know?”

” “W-Why?” “

“Why what?”

“Why am I, who has been with Ryu-kun longer, on the same level as Itabashi-san?”

Come to think of it, before I noticed, she started calling Sakura ‘Itabashi-san’.

“Why are you making even Morikawa-san a ‘bestest friend’? Normally there’s only one, right?”

Why?

“W-Well. I go to Ryu-kun’s house more than Itabashi-san, so.”

“Hah! Sakura had Ryu-chan come to her house yesterday, you know.”

“I know. So what?”

“Heh?”

“Don’t ‘So what’ me! That part is weird, isn’t it! Why do you have a grasp on my actions!”

Sakura’s eyes have turned into dots.

“Hey, Ryu-chan. Morikawa-san is dangerous, you know?”

I know, but she’s actually a good person, really.

“What are you talking about?”

“About how you are scary.”

“Wha-?”

Well, I won’t deny that part.

“Fufufu, too bad. It seems Sakura’s victory has been decided.”

“The match isn’t over yet!”

Like I said, what match are you having! Also, Sakura’s tone changed again.

“Fufu, I wonder what you have?”

“I’ve gone to Izumi’s house lots of times, and I go to Ryu-chan’s house too. Ryu-chan and I are family!”

“W-What!?”

Haaah~. What a pain.

“What does she mean? Being family with Morikawa-san.”

“Hm? Since we’ve been going to each other’s houses since way back, it’s like we’re family.”

“Hah! So you aren’t real family, it seems.”

“Ah—, umm. Wait a sec.”

Izumi took a key out of her bag.

“Here it is. This is the key to Ryu-kun’s house.”

“WHYYY!?”

Ah, that.

“Since we go back and forth often, we have the keys to both houses. Here, me too.”

I showed Sakura the key to Izumi’s house.

“Hahaha, is this my win?”

“Ryu-chan, this is the key to Sakura’s house so I’ll give it to you!”

“No, like I can accept that!”

In mine and Izumi’s case, we have them because our parents agreed to it!

“Even if Ryu-kun accepts it, Itabashi-san doesn’t have the key to Ryu-kun’s house so it’s meaningless.”

“NOOOO—!”

I don’t really get it, but is it over?

“N-Not yet.”

There’s still more!?

“You are being noisy from the morning. Also, at this rate, you will be late.”

Ah. It’s a savior—!

Chapter 58: Unexpected Savior!?

“What are you doing this early in the morning?”

Machida-san speaks with a harsh tone, perhaps a little angry.

” ” “……” ” “

Even Izumi and Sakura’s fight settled down immediately. As expected of Machida-san.

Now, if only she would scold Izumi and Sakura too.

“Please answer quickly, Ichikami-kun.”

“Me!?”

“Isn’t that obvious? Who else?”

“Izumi and Sakura are right here!”

Machida-san tilted her head.

“What are you saying? There is no way Morikawa-san and Sakura would act strangely, is there? The only one who would do that is Ichikami-kun.”

“Izumi and the others’ trust level is insane. And the lowness of my trust level is sad.”

“It can’t be helped. Because it’s Ichikami-kun.”

“Cruel.”

” “Fufufu.” “

While I was talking with Machida-san, Izumi and Sakura started laughing.

“Hey, Morikawa-san. Looks like a truce for today.”

“Yeah. Well, I won’t lose next time, Sakura-chan.”

“Yes. Ah, right, is it okay if I call you Izumi-chan from now on?”

“Of course!”

They made up before I knew it.

More importantly, they’re like delinquents after a fight.

“Hey, why were you guys doing something like a contest?”

“Hah?”

Sakura tilted her head.

Izumi sighed deeply. Did I ask something weird?

“Hey, Izumi-chan. Is Ryu-chan always like this?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“This is going to be a long battle from now on.”

“I won’t lose, okay.”

“Me neither.”

……

“In the end, what battle is it?”

“Ryu-kun, be quiet.” “Ryu-chan, shut up.”

“Ah, yes.”

Eh? Why?

Did I do something?

“Haaah… I watched for a bit, but, Ichikami-kun.”

“Yes?”

“You should just die.”

“WHY!?”

Why do I have to be scolded by three girls first thing in the morning?

Huh? For some reason, tears are coming out.

“Well then, let’s get going quickly.”

” “Oka~ay.” “

Machida-san and the others started walking, so I started walking too.

“More importantly, Sakura.”

“What is it, Toyomi?”

As we were walking, Machida-san and Sakura started talking.

Machida-san’s tone with us and her tone with Sakura are totally different.

“Why wouldn’t you go to school with me today?”

“Sorry. I wanted to go to school with Ryu-chan today.”

“Hmm. Well, it’s fine, I guess.”

Uwah. First time seeing Machida-san like this.

This is interesting in its own way.

“Ichikami-kun, you aren’t thinking anything rude, are you?”

“Eh? Ah, yes. Of course not.”

Machida-san suddenly gets sharp so it’s scary.

“Well, fine.”

Thank goodness.

“Hey, Ryu-kun.”

Izumi spoke to me in a whisper.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Toyomi-chan is interesting today, huh.”

“Yeah. Definitely interesting.”

It’s really interesting when she talks to Sakura.

“I can hear you.”

Ah, I’m finished.

“Tch, I wanted to punch Ichikami-kun but there is no time anymore.”

I’m saved—

Chapter 59: Unexpected Apology!?

“Ah, Ryu, mornin’—”

After Izumi and Sakura’s fight finally ended, we arrived at school ten minutes later than usual. When I entered the classroom, Tomoya came over.

“Oh, mornin’.”

“You were kinda late coming to school today, huh.”

“Yeah, Izumi and Sakura started fighting on the way to school.”

“Izumi-chan and Sakura-san did?”

“Yeah.”

Then, Tomoya tilted his head a little.

“Come to think of it, was ‘Sakura’ what you called Sakura-san?”

Ah, that.

“Sakura and I used to be close a long time ago, see, but I forgot about it. So, since I remembered yesterday, I’m calling her Sakura just like the old days.”

“Hmm. So that means you came to school with three girls. You’re so popular, I’m envious~.”

Tomoya says this sounding a bit displeased, but…

“I don’t wanna hear that from you. You popular monkey.”

“That’s mean~.”

Like I care!

It’s not like I’m liked by them or anything, and it was a disaster this morning.

“Phew. We made it in time. Now then, Ichikami-kun.”

While I was having a staring contest with Tomoya, Machida-san called me from behind.

“Yes?”

“Well then, please stand there.”

Machida-san points to the spot right in front of her.

What is it?

“Here goes.”

Then, Machida-san’s right fist came flying toward my face.

“Woah!”

I succeeded in dodging it at the very last second.

“Please do not dodge. I cannot hit you.”

“Don’t hit me!”

“It is your fault, Ichikami-kun.”

Eh? What for?

Is Machida mad at me for yesterday too?

“You laughed at the sight of me talking with Sakura. That is a death penalty.”

“Death penalty!?”

“Yes.”

Don’t ‘Yes’ me!

“I’m sorry! I apologize, so please forgive me and don’t punch me.”

“No.”

Why—!

“O—i! The bell’s gonna ring soon so take your seats, you guys!”

Umeda-sensei arrived with nice timing.

Thank you very much!

“Tch, I failed to finish him off again. Next time for sure.”

Finish me off, she says…

While frightened by Machida-san who is seriously trying to kill me, I return to my seat.

“Oka—ay, today we’re gonna decide the events for the next Sports Festival—”

Eh? Is it that time already?

“Sensei, isn’t that early?”

“It’s still July, you know.”

“Sports Festival, I’m fired up—!”

Except for the last person, it seems everyone thinks it’s early after all.

“Oka—ay, quiet down— . We have an explanation from the Grade Student Council President, Machida-san, about that.”

Everyone focuses on Machida-san, who stood up after being called by the teacher.

Before that, even we, who are in the Grade Student Council, didn’t know about this though…

“Well then, I will begin the explanation of the Sports Festival.”

Hmm, I’m not really feeling up to it.

“Now, please come to the front as an assistant, Tomoya-kun.”

There was someone who knew—!!

“Oka—ay.”

” ” ” ” “Kyaaa—!!” ” ” ” “

The surrounding girls start making a fuss.

You really are more popular than me.

“Now then, I will explain.”

Chapter 60: Unexpected Sports Festival Explanation!?

“First of all, regarding why we are deciding on the Sports Festival events at this time.”

Yeah. That’s definitely what I’m most curious about.

“Now then, Sunagawa-kun, please distribute the explanation sheets to everyone.”

“Oka—ay.”

Tomoya starts handing out the printouts to everyone.

” ” ” ” ” “Kyaaa—!!” ” ” ” ” ” “

And the girls start screaming.

This popular monkey!

When I glare at Tomoya, Tomoya notices and looks surprised.

And then, the girls who noticed that glare at me…

S-Scary…

“Now then, everyone please look at the printout.”

Looking at it, the event categories and the date are written there.

It was September 14th.

“Machida-san. It’s still July, you know?”

A girl in the class asks Machida-san a question, but Tomoya holds up his hand to say ‘wait’.

“Hau.”

Tch.

“That is because, you see, we in the Grade Student Council need to have things decided before summer vacation starts so we can make various preparations. Therefore, we would like to decide the events at this early stage. Any questions?”

“I haven’t heard about this though!?”

I retort energetically to Machida-san.

“Eh? You didn’t hear about it, Ryu-kun?”

Eh? You heard about it, Izumi?

“Ah, it was a pain so I didn’t tell you.”

“Oi!”

Is it really okay for a person like this to be the Grade Student Council President?

” ” ” ” “Wahahaha.” ” ” ” “

Everyone in the class started laughing.

“Sensei, everyone is being cruel.”

I appealed to the teacher.

“It’s a pain so I don’t care.”